Fireproof floor construction.



'UNirno STATES ATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES BUENTE, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIREPROOF FLOOR CONSTRUCTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 663,060, daten Decemte 4, 1900;

Application ined Jaimy 6, 1900, serai No. 639. (No model.;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. BUENTE, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new? and useful Improvement in Fireproof Floor Construction, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to providea iireproof iioor construction which shall obviate the disadvantages pertaining to construc# tions heretofore used.

In particular my improvement affords advantages of great strength and ease of construction, cheapness, and relative lightness, and enhanced iireproof qualities.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l shows in Vertical section, at right angles to the licor-beams, a floor constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is-a view on a larger scale, being a section on the line II II of Fig. l, parallel With the floor-beams and showing three of the tile arches, Fig. l being a longitudinal section along one of the arches. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing a modified construction.

As shown in Figs. l and 2, the iioor is constructed of series of arches arranged at right angles to the Hoor-beams A and composed of hollow tile centers B B, set permanently in the lioor with intermediate bodies of concrete C and overlaid with concrete C', the suspension or tension rods D being arranged in the concrete between the tile cent-ers and being maintained in tension. The bases of the tile centers are in substantially the same horizontal plane and constitute the ceiling, the ceiling-pieces E, as shown in Figs. l and 2, being sections of tiles set at the base of the hollow centers B, held in place by cement and formed, preferably, with iianges e. As shown in Fig. 2, the tile centers are composed of upright U-shaped legs F, each leg constituting the side of one of the centers and the top plate G extending from one piece F to the other, the ceiling-pieces E being interposed at the base, as above explained.

In constructing the floor I first form a temiporaryremovable floor of boards, which occupies the position H in Fig. 2. I then lay the tile centers B B, as shown in Fig. 2, upon the boards and then lill in the concrete above and between the centers and apply the usual necessary.

wooden sleepers J. When the concrete has set and the iioor is finished, the centers remain permanently in the floor, and there is nothing 4to remove from within them. All that remains to do is to strip 0E the temporary floor of boards and apply the ceiling-plaster. The

' upright pillars of concrete between the centers rest at the bottom on tile-supports constituted by the bases of the legs F.

In Fig. 3 I show a modified construction of my invention adapted especially for fioorings of small thickness, though it may be used for iioors of any dimensions. In such case I may make the tile centers of quadrangular pieces of tile B B2, each of which maybe made in a single piece. Pairs of these centers may be set in close contact and separate from the next tile centers by flanges b, which constitute the base of the concrete pillars. Otherwise the construction is as above explained, concrete being applied above and between the centers and the parts being built in the manner alreadyrdescribed. With the construction shown in Fig. 3 separate ceiling-pieces E are not necessary, because they are constituted by the bases of the sections B B2.

In addition to saving the great cost ot' removing the wooden centers heretofore commonly employed in floor constructions and enabling the floor to be built at one operation I derive other important advan tages from the use of a tile center which remains in the floor as a permanent part of the structure, for becoming integrally united with the concrete the tile adds strength and makes it possible to construct the floor with less thickness and Weight of concrete than would otherwise be The materials of my lioor are disposed to the best advantage. The tile, being a better ireproofing material than concrete, is placed where it is nearest the heat in case there should be re in the building and by protecting the concrete enables me to obtain a given degree of safety against re with the use of concrete of less expensive grade than heretofore. The concrete, also affording in its Inass the greater strength, is disposed in the manner to give the most stability to the floor. The construction is very strong, because the tension-rods'D maintain the floor by tension, while the arches of concrete and the centers are in compression.

IOO

Within the scope of my invention modii cations may be made in the form and construction of the parts. For example, the form of the tile centers may be changed, and in- =stead of using suspension rods of the character shown I may employ other tension-rods for suspending or supporting the floor. The tile may be made of other refractory material than earthenware. The tops ofthe archcenters may be curved or flat, as desired.

I claim- 1. In iireprooi iioor construction, an arch composed ot' concrete containing hollow refractory-centers in its lower portion, said centers being supported by the concrete and having tile bottoms, and tension-rods extending' through the concrete between the centers, the concrete forming a compression member.

2. I n fireproof floor construction, au arch composed of concrete containing hollow refractory centers in its lower portion., said centers being supported byv the concrete and having bases extending to the ceiling below,

and tension-rods extending through the concrete between the centers, the concrete'forni-V ing a compression member.

4. In -reproof floor construction, an arch composed of concrete containing hollow refractory centers in its lower portion, said centers being supported .by the concrete and having tile bottoms, tension-rods extending through the concrete between the centers, the concrete forming a compression member, and ceiling-tiles at the bottom of said structure.

5. In flreproof floor construction, an arch composed of concrete containing hollow refractory centers in its lower portion, said centers being supported by the concrete and having tile bottoms, and a tension-rod for each arch extending-through each of the concrete iillings between the refractory centers, the concrete structure forming a compression member. l

6.. In fi-reproof fioor construction, a concrete archlhaving a permanent refractory center supported by the said concrete, said center having a tile bottom.

7.k In ireproof iioor construction, a concretearch'having permanent refractory centers supported by the said concrete, the concrete being inclosedfat thebottom and sides f by'extensions from. said refractory centers.

In, testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES F. BUENTE. Witnesses:

THOMAS W. BAKEWELL, H. M. CoRwIN. 

